Stretchable foot covering



April 1953 H. s HEILBRONNER 2,636,287

STRETCHABLE FOOT COVERING Filed June 7, 1950 Patented Apr. 28, 1953 STRETCHABLE FOOT COVERING J Harry S. Heilbronner, Pei-fry, N. Y assignor to The Perry Knitting Company, Inc., Perry, N. Y.,

This invention relates generally to garments and more particularly to sleeping garments.

For a number of purposes, and especially for use by growing children, sleeping garments having a closed foot type of construction have had wide use. They-keep the nether extremities of the wearer properly clothed and warm. I Up to now most foot constructions on sleepin garments have been made on the general principle of a top part which is either an extension of the main body or is "composed of separate pieces which are attached to the main body particularly at the nether part, andthe sole part having lateral parallel edges with roundings in the front and the back. This construction has resulted in a generally transverse seam located at the heel of the wearer. In this prior art construction only a limited size range is useful and if the garment is too large or too small, discomfort results. Furthermore such transverse rear heel seam is subjected to excess wear and as a consequence premature rupture in this area is encountered. Furthermore when the foot size of the garment is not appropriate to the wearer, distortion occurs with a resultant undue strain and discomfort in-portions which are spaced from theheel joint in the garment.

, 'It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a novel sleeping garment construction in which thereis truer form fitting for a'range of foot sizes. I

i Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the class described wherein the combination sole and heel element is of declining width from the toe area inthe direction of the heel. This is in accordance with the structure of the human foot and provides greater comfort and durability.

Another object herein lies in the provision of sleeping garment foot construction wherein the combination sole and heel element is elongated to extend upwardly beyond the heel of the wearer. This construction results in the elimination of a seam across the heel and being not limited to a specific size may adapt itself to the length of the child's foot.

These objects and features, and other incidental ends and advantages, will become more fully apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a. rear view in perspective of a a corporation of New York I Application June 7, 1950, Serial No. 166,617

sleeping garment; showing an embodiment of the invention in a position as worn. Figure 2 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a foot portion as seen in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 3-3 on Figure 1.

Figure-4 is a vertical sectional view corresponding generally to, Figure 3 but showing an altered position taken by theparts when the garment is worn by a wearer having a larger size foot than in Figure 3. I

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 on Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 56 onTFigure 5, showing another form.

Figure 7. is a view in perspective of the combination sole'and heel element as removed from Figure 2. t

In accordance with the invention,- the garment I0 includes feet II and I2. The upper portion I3 of the garment as well as the nether portion I4 upwardly of the said feet II and I2 may be" of any well known construction such as one or two piece design and will therefore not be describedin detail.

Since the feet I I and I2 are substantially identical a detaileddescription of one will sufilce'for 'both and certain of the parts on the foot I I may have the same reference characters as those on the foot I2, with the addition of a prefix l.

The foot I2 comprises broadly a top I5 and a combination sole and heel element I6. The top I5 is shown as being made upof two substantially identical top elements I! and I8 joined centrally by the central front seam I9. Where desired however the top I5 may be cut from a single piece of material. The upper rear edges 2| and 22 of the top at the rear are joined, these parts meeting in the back of the foot about two-thirds up the back height of the foot in its normal arrangement. This juncture of the seam portion 23 avoids excess seams at the line of attachment at the seam 24 which joins the foot to the leg 25 of the garment II). The connecting seam I24 joins the foot II to the leg I25.

While the garment may be made of various kinds of material, the most satisfactory mode of construction resides in the utilization of knitted fabric. Variations in stretchability can be achieved by sewing the parts with the wales of the knitted fabric in said parts in parallel or perpendicular position so that various arrangements may be obtained by cutting the top I5 heel element [6 includes a curved treat; edge 21,

and inwardly, rearwardly and upwardly converging edges 28 and 29. The element 156 is out so that the wales run longitudinallythe're'of as indicated by the arrow 30 to allow a degree of stretchability in this direction. This? provides: for a maximum of transverse stretchability in the toe. area as indicated by the arrow 3| and further allows transverse stretch-ability as indicated by the arrow 32 so that said element- IG may conform to the heel 35*of the wearer. The element 6* is joined to the lower edgesof' the top element by the seam. $3 the manner shown sothat the toot 3c is entirely enciosed.

In addition to the three way stretchability re to, one: component of the adaptability of the: present construction to difierences the wearers foot n'ze is gnxapl'iically iiiustrated; in Figures 3 and The: corresponding darts in Figure 4 are given the sufdx a where will be: seen ttrattthe; element me has been moved down in the rear portion thereot' reia-tiverto the forward portion: so the total length of the iootlla is greater and. still the heeii 35a:- ot the iii wearer rests upon a smooth olefin: surtacecompletely tree of seams. Thus as indicated; schematically by the: arrow 48 on Figures '3 and 4a the rear portion of the element I8 may shift iii pcsitien. to: provide proper; accommodation fiordifierenttoot sizes. tiorr theretoreprovidesthree dimensional stretch;- ability' in contradistinction. to"- ordiinary flexibility. This; is adwzarrtageoua tor a number of reasons; not only com tort; but; including the. longer period of usefulness to accommodate the growth; of the wearer and also may result ina reduction of the munber of sizes in which standard; garments be made to accommodate a series at sizes of wearers;

While I. have: shown the feet t and t2; as con. neetedto the garment by the seams 112k 24 the foot in the form ot a bootee may be separately fiabricated and provided at the-un er ankle The present novel. construcarea with cuffs or similar means for securing a fit around the ankle of the wearer and these articles may be of substantial utility independently of the larger garment.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modification will occur to a persomskilledl maths art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A stretchable fabric foot-covering comprismg; as tow having bottom front and side edges, and rear edges converging upwardly from the rear ends of sa idi side edges, a combination stretchable fabric sole and heel element havin a sole portion joined to the bottom front and side edges on ton and a turned up heel portion, said portions being more stretchable transversely than longitudinally, said heel portion having side edges converging to a sharp meeting point and joined directly tn the respective rear edges of said top.

2. fistretchable fabric root-covering comprising: a: top havingbottcnr front and side edges, and rearedges converging upwardly from the rear ends of said side edges; a combination stretchable fabric sole" and heel element having a sole portion joined to the bottom front and side edges of the top, and a. turned up portion; said portionsbeing more stretchable transverseiy than longitudinally, said. heel; portion having side edges converging; to a sharp meetin point we joined directly to the respective rear edges of said top, saidrear edges of the topbeing joinedv directly to each other above the heel portion, and said converging heel portion having its point positioned in. the lower end of the juncture of the rear edges of the too. 7

HARRY" S. HEIIBRONNER.

lteterenoeszflited vin: the file of. this patent STATES Number Name liste- 202,082. Whittemore. "mu- (Apr. 2', 1'8I8 599,995: Danton 13., I898 904,383 Velaskc liter.v 11,1908

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